Sunday, 24 February 2013

Frocktasia on the road

Yesterday was a big day for me; it was the first time I took Frocktasia on the road and left the comfort zone of my home office and computer screen behind.

It's kind of strange that someone who has spent most their adult life working in hospitality, should be at all nervous about the face-to-face aspect of selling at markets but quite frankly, I was bricking it!

For years I've been the bighearted barmaid who's always ready to have a chat about anything to anyone but for some bonkers reason when it came to doing the very same thing for myself, punting something other than beer, I felt as if I was facing Everest.

However, I cannot remain a home-office strummer if I want to become a proper frockstar, I have to grab the scary bull by its horns and override my inexplicable hang-ups.

Yesterday was the first step in that direction and a step well worth taking!

I'm such a fusspot worrier so I got about half an hours sleep the night before.

Here I am setting up in the morning and being quite nervous about it all...

I should have brought more knick-knacks to dress my table as it did look a little bit bare.

I'm going play around with table dressing at home before the next outing...

There are certainly a few things that I will be doing differently next time.

I ran out of time (read: was struck down by a bad case of bone idle laziness) before I could mark up all my items individually, so I just went out and bought a packet of neon star labels and divided my stock into four price categories (£3/£5/£10/£20).

Next time I'll do something like this instead, it looks a wee bit more professional...

I would have snapped up in a heartbeat if it wasn't for the fact that I was under strict instructions not to buy anything...

The Boogaloo is a really cool pub and even though yesterday wasn't exactly heaving customer wise we still had a fab time. There's a DJ playing all day, you can get some seriously scrumptious looking cake and of course beer...who ever came up with the idea of having a vintage market in a pub should be given a medal!

Some more of my fellow jumblers and their fabulously dressed stalls...

Besides Leslie's poppy print blouse, I would have loved to buy that stunning green and gold caftan...

Mark was kind enough to come along and hung around all day to give me moral support, what a star :)

Sara has got an amazing blog that I couldn't recommend highly enough, it makes for great reading and she takes delightful photos too, a perfect mix in my opinion, if you are not already a follower, you are missing out!

So you may very well be wondering if I will be able to retire on my takings of the day...

Nope, but it was the perfect gentle start to my face-to-face selling career.

I met some really lovely people and I now know what I can improve on until next time cause there will definitely be a next time...hopefully very soon :)

Today I slept in until late & then we popped to the park to feed Lilo.

I think she recognizes my voice now, cause when we arrived she was down by the pond drinking but when I called for her she came running up to us waiting for me to bring my baggie of seed out. She eats straight out of my hand and she's not scared of me at all. Every few days I bring the birds some finely chopped fresh greens too, they absolutely love it.

17 comments:

What a lot of interesting and colourful items there were at the vintage jumble! Your tiny stall area at the Boogaloo looked lovely. I can't imagine how you could have possibly displayed all the wonderful frocks you brought (the ones you let us see in your post Vintage Jumble sneaky peek). Despit limited space it looked great. I see your stall neighbor Leslie actually set up shelves. With all the beautiful items for sale I'd be concerned that, being in a pub, someone might drink too much, bump into something and cause breakage. Good for you, getting out and participating. Your stall area was very pretty.

The photographs of you in your 60s maxi dress are awesome. It's a lovely colour and you look lovely in it. It's a pretty outfit.

First off, you look super slinky sexy in that purple maxi. I love it! The jumble sale looks awesome and you're right-- beer, cake, vintage clothes, a DJ... The perfect mix! I totally get weirding out when working a booth. We worked a small booth a couple times and I was so nutty I literally made my husband talk to everyone and I hid in the back behind the tent. And I had worked in hospitality over over 15 years. I have talked to so many strangers and sold them so many drinks that I can't even begin to understand the paradox... Congrats on going out of your comfort zone!!! I feel like trying to set something like this up here...Becky :)

You look so glamorous in this outfit. Love the maxi dress, so intense colour and looks fab on you. I think I too would get nervous to take part in such event for the first time. Don't know how you could resist not to buy that poppy print blouse, absolutely beautiful.

I think your stall is amazing and it will just get better and better with each market you attend. I think you're so kind looking after your bird friends - I bet Lilo is really happy to see you each day. Love that purple dress on you and the sequined hat. You look great:D

Good fir you for taking the plunge and doing something new; I bet you're a star with people and at selling. How I wish I lived in the land of vintage fairs - I would be haunting them every weekend! You look tres minxy in your fab purple 70s dress! Is Lilo the bird that looked injured to you a while back? Xo

I'm so glad you had a fantastic time! Vintage fairs have totally changed my life, I'm beside myself with excitement for Saturday's already! You looked brilliant and I'm so glad Mark stayed and helped! I take it that his inspired rail stayed upright throughout the whole day! That purple dress looks fantastic on you and I'm happy Lilo knows you. xxxxx

Hi there!! Well done on your first time, your stall looked fine and I'm sure as time goes on you'll get more and more inspired-fairs are hard work, but so enjoyable and very socialable, good luck on the future ones you do! xxx

I'll try and come along next time! All fabulous and reasonably priced too. I remember Leslie from Dandy Lion, she had some great stuff. I really like your purple dress, purple is really your colour! xxxx

Good for you! So little opportunity here for these kind of events- I think selling in pubs is brilliant, but it would not happened here- I know Sara she is lovely- I'm suppose to send her something and did not do it yet - Going to a clothes swap this Sunday that should be funI love you in your purple dress, stunning!

So much going on with you lately and sharing so many stories too! Congrats on the fair it looks like you had a great first run and each one will be that much easier. The purple dress is amazing on you! xxoo

Fabulous post and many thanks for including my stall and my market. It's lovely to read your post and all the great comments, too! You've done so well on this platform, and will no doubt carry that thru to real time market and fair selling too! I'm looking so forward to seeing you at the Dandy on Saturday! xx

Greetings and welcome to the Frocktasia blog.
Here you will find tales of my little adventures together with my hubby Mark, see a fabulous array of garments from my vast vintage & retro collection and feast your eyes on a plethora of pics. Scuba diving is my passion and the great outdoors my playground. I absolutely love frocks from past fashion eras and peddling vintage threads is my lovely livelihood. I am a soldier of the individual fashion army and I salute those who dare to be different. If you would like to know more about me then read my ‘About’ page or why not get in touch. Thanks for stopping by. With love, Jennie...xxx